Hales Valley Trust auditors say that our Local Governance Model is groundbreaking

Following a successful internal audit of a community-focused governance model, Hales Valley Trust will continue to develop their Local Governance Advocates in each of its schools.

This innovative structure will strengthen school-community partnerships and enable meaningful local engagement, aligning with the Trust’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, particularly around Excellence in Governance.

Mark Simpson, Chair of Trustees at Hales Valley Trust, commented:

“We’re excited to further develop this model across our schools during this year following a strong audit. It places community voices at the heart of decision-making and ensures that local perspectives shape the direction of each school.

The work of the advocates during 2024-2025 demonstrated clear benefits—leaders felt more supported and experienced a reduction in administrative burden, while Advocates appreciated the focused nature of discussions, which allowed them to explore issues raised by the Trust board, pupils, families and staff in greater depth.

Crucially, this approach eliminates overlap between local governance and the Trust Board, allowing Advocates to concentrate on school-specific data and priorities without duplicating central reviews.

We warmly welcome anyone with a connection to our schools to get involved and help us continue building strong, inclusive communities."